I've got a 1000W, oil-filled, stand-alone, plug-in radiator. I can't grasp why it only cost me 35 bucks from Kmart, but that's by the bye. (Thank you China?) It has a thermostat in it that shuts it off when it's a certain temperature.
The point is:
When the RADIATOR is a certain temperature.
Not when the ROOM is a certain temperature.
The RadioAtor comprises two devices, similar to "wall warts", as I believe the Yanks call them.
The first is essentially a radio-receiver relay (or bluetooth bizzo, though why the hell you'd want this is beyond me). You plug it into the wall, and then you plug the radiator into it. And then you crank the radiator to 11.
The second is a thermostat with a radio-transmitter. You plug it into a spare outlet on the other side of the room to the radiator. So, when the room is at the desired temperature, the transmitter tells the receiver to turn the radiator off.
Thankyou. That is all.-- m_Al_com, Jul 12 2006 Remote Light Switch http://www.hardware...112932_front200.jpgSee annotation. [devnull, May 28 2009] I think it's not a bad idea - but probably baked already (I'm too lazy to look up today).
My main problem with it is that it's not really a half-baked solution..... could the communication device not be something mechanical or steam powered with pulleys etc? - neutral vote on this one, until it gets less practical. I like the name though.-- xenzag, Jul 12 2006 You want less practicality than two-piece, battery-operated, radio-enabled thermostats for controlling cheap imported radiators? You must be mad!-- methinksnot, Jul 12 2006 [m_Al_com], I've recently been musing over this very same problem myself. Here's an evenly-heated bun for you. +-- imaginality, Jul 13 2006 smart.
So kind of a ad-hoc de-centralized heating system - but with one of the advantages of central heating - room stats.
Also quite scaleable , probably. [+]-- monojohnny, Jul 13 2006 Dammit, [xenzag]!
Semaphore, then!
o 0 o .\|/ ..| _/ \_-- m_Al_com, Jul 13 2006 Oh, and if anyone can tell me how to get to work on the HB, I'll give one of your ideas a bun...-- m_Al_com, Jul 13 2006 o 0 o \|/ | _/ \_
Hold down ALT, and type 0160 on the keypad.-- Ling, Jul 13 2006 only if the semaphore is courtesy of tap dancing mice...-- xenzag, Jul 13 2006 [Ling]: I particularly liked your Tubot. Very cool. [xenzag]: Sheesh. Tough crowd.-- m_Al_com, Jul 14 2006 This is a good idea (+1) but I think it could be accomplished easily with a modified thermostat and one of those $10 christmas light remote controllers. I added one in as a link.-- devnull, May 28 2009 wont this use more electricity?
The radiator RF receiver module is powered to constantly check for a RF signal from your RF heat sensor the other side of the room.
Uses minute more power?-- undecided888, May 29 2009 [+] This might be more of a WIBNI than an idea but I still had to bun it for the thought. This is somewhat baked in commercial HVAC systems where the temperature controls are mounted in a centralized location but the actual thermostat/thermometer is located in the environment where the air is being heated or cooled.-- Jscotty, May 29 2009 random, halfbakery